Netherland; 2 PhD Positions in Bone Regeneration

The Faculty of Science and Technology (700 faculty members, 1100 students)
offers a range of bachelor and master courses (NanoTechnology, Applied
Physics, Chemical Engineering and Technical Medicine). The faculty’s
research is organized in three of the university’s interdisciplinary
research institutes: MESA+, MIRA, and IMPACT. These institutes increase the
vitality of research by enabling collaboration between programs and
disciplines, by providing shared facilities, and by attracting funding for
joint projects. They also provide a conduit to industrial and other external
partners.

*2 Ph.D positions (4 years) in bone regeneration: development of novel
materials and high-throughput screening of their biological performance*

*Job description*

The department of Tissue Regeneration at the MIRA Institute for Biomedical
Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente (
http://tr.tnw.utwente.nl/) is dedicated to develop new strategies for the
treatment of bone and cartilage defects. Recently, our lab developed
synthetic osteo-inductive ceramics, materials which are able to actively
stimulate bone regeneration and which are now clinically evaluated as
alternative for autologous bone grafting. Fueled by this, we are currently
developing a new generation of inductive ceramics by further improving the
inductive potential as well as the handling and mechanical properties.

In this project we are looking for *two PhD students*. One student will
engage in development of a family of novel biomaterials, by modifying their
physico-chemical properties and by the preparation of composites of ceramics
and polymers. The other student will set up a high throughput screening
system to evaluate the bone forming capacity of ceramics in vitro.
Micro-array technology will be used to assess the biological response of
stem cells to ceramics and be correlated to their ability to induce bone
formation in animal models using bio-informatic analysis.

*Requirements*

We are now recruiting two PhD students. One candidate should have a Master’s
degree in chemistry or engineering and affinity with biomaterials and
orthopaedics. The other candidate, with a biomedical background should be
keen to apply molecular biology to solve a medical problem. Expertise in
bio-informatics is recommended.

Outstanding knowledge of scientific English both in speaking and in reading
is required.

*Terms of employment*

The Tissue Regeneration Group, led by Prof. Clemens van Blitterswijk is a
part of the MIRA - Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical
Medicine at the University of Twente (http://tr.tnw.utwente.nl). We offer a
top level research and academic environment with excellent opportunities for
personal development. The assignment is for 4 years, with a go/no-go
assessment at the end of the first year. The candidates are expected to
finish the project with a PhD thesis and disseminate the results through
publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international
conferences. The starting salary will be € 2042, - in the first year and up
to € 2612, - gross per month in the last year.

*Applications*

Questions about the project on biomaterials development should be directed
to Dr. Pamela Habibovic (p.habibovic@tnw.utwente.nl). For information about
the high-throughput screening project, please contact Dr. Jan de Boer (
j.deboer@tnw.utwente.nl).

Applications should consist of an application/motivation letter and a
detailed CV. Please mention vacancy number 09/193.